Biography

and infographic of Works

I'm going away before the end of May and all this will disappear. So if you want to download anything from my catalogue - now is the time.
Thank you to radio for the incredible 60 years of support.

JUST RELEASED Sept 2022: (from player above #1)
"BEST ALBUMS OF 2022" - DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE
The new Chamber Blues album
MORE Different Voices (Critical acclaim is pouring in)
http://www.airplaydirect.com/corkysiegel

JUST RELEASED Sept 2022: (from player above #2)
Corky's first solo album in over 40 years
Something Wrong
http://www.airplaydirect.com/somethingwrong

JUST RELEASED Sept 2022: (from player above #3)
Politically timely
Songs for Truth and Harmony
http://www.airplaydirect.com/truth

JUST ADDED: Solo Flight 1975-1980
Favorites of Corky Solo - Newly mastered and digitally released for the first time. It's diverse material but at least listen to the first few tunes.
http://www.airplaydirect.com/solo-flight

- Cousin Corky

BIOGRAPHY

Corky Siegel is known internationally as one of the worlds great blues harmonica players, blues pianist, singer-songwriter, and the sole pioneer/composer of award-winning revolutionary works that weave blues and classical forms together. ((“Siegel has been doing that now for over five decades. Remarkably, he continues to make it work in astounding ways” - Jim Hynes - Making A Scent & Elmore.)) Co-founder of the SIEGEL-SCHWALL BAND, and Blues Hall of Fame Inductee, Corky Siegel has a catalogue of recordings on RCA, Vanguard, Alligator, and million selling blues/classical recordings on the iconic classical label Deutsche Grammophon. His close associations with the blues masters in the earlier days of Chicago blues, his essential part in the blues rock revolution, and his surprising success in bringing together blues and classical audiences make him a pivotal (though inconspicuous) figure in modern music history. “Underappreciated national treasure” - DownBeat Magazine

VIDEOS
(Live performances - not final mixes)

From Album #1
MORE DIFFERENT VOICES - Chamber Blues
There Goes My Man (Sample)
Written/sung: Marcella Detroit. Arr. Siegel

From Album #2
SOMETHING WRONG - Corky Solo album
Am I Wrong About You
Written/Sung by C. Siegel

From Album #3 (Politically timely)
SONGS FOR TRUTH AND HARMONY
Only Love Will Get Us There
Written/Sung by C. Siegel (Fiddle; Randy Sabien)

P.S. PERSPECTIVE ON GENRE

Part of the joy of writing and performing music for me is to "surprise myself"

When Jim Schwall and I formed The Siegel-Schwall Band, most of our material was blues because we were inspired by that music. This was especially true during the 30 years Sam Lay was our drummer. But Jim and I were not bound, by even an ounce, to any form or approach. Sam Lay (the great blues drummer in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame) had a favorite kind of music to play and listen to, and it was country music.

I grew up listening to Top 40 music. There was no genre. The San Francisco concerts in 66 to 70+ would have Ravi Shankar, Buddy Guy, and Waylan Jennings on the same bill and no one blinked an eye. The famous radio station KMPX played everything from Looney Tunes music, to Janis Joplin to Bach.

When my wife Holly calls to book concerts many venues would say; “We love this but it doesn’t fit our series” she responds; “Corky has been working his whole life trying to come up with music that doesn’t fit your series.” LOL! Tell me who has a series of blues and chamber music. LOL!

I know I’m not the only one but I get confused with having to name genre, especially when I know that dividing up forms of music help to divide people, when music only wants to bring people together. I'm not complaining, I'm very happy, but I think it would be so cool if we inspire each other to always look at music (and the world) through the broadest lens. - - Cousin Corky